KIT & GEAR
GUNGIR TM MK23 RMR SLIDE
BY ODIN’S SPEAR!
STEVE T TREATS HIS SNIPER SIDEARM - THE UBIQUITOUS TM MK23 - TO AN UPGRADED SLIDE
AND RMR GOODNESS TOO!
T
okyo Marui’s mighty MK23 has
rightly earned its reputation as the
sniper’s preferred sidearm. As a Non-
Blowback (NBB) pistol, it’s not only quieter
than most pistols but it also returns greater
consistency between shots.
But even though the package includes
almost extravagant ad-ons such as a
suppressor and LAM unit, there’s one thing
you can’t add to TM’s MK23 as standard:
a Red Dot Sight (RDS). Unless, that is, you
purchase an aftermarket slide such as the
Gungnir RMR slide from Laylax…
SPEAR OF ODIN
Yep, we surprise ourselves by swapping
one plastic slide for another plastic slide
at a cost of £40, but we’re less bothered
with feel and “clinkability” with this pistol
because you never need to rack this slide.
It won’t even move a millimeter during
normal operation.
So why make the change? Well,
we could talk about the slightly waved
serrations to the rear of the slide, or even
the higher ones at both sides of the front.
But as we’ve already mentioned, these are
of no practical use.
You’ll lose the HK markings to the left
- which may upset MilSim fans - at the
same time as “Gungnir” appears above
the slide release. OK, that includes the
word “gun” but it’s actually cooler than
that – “Gungnir” is Odin’s spear in Norse
mythology. And as a latter-day Viking, that
appeals to me.
While the right side of the original slide
is blank, Laylax’s replacement reads “Take
aim and pull back on the trigger”. Well,
duhr! But also… good life advice?
more is more.
The only way to add an RMR to the
TM is a new slide such as the Gungnir.
It doesn’t hurt that just adding the slide
alone gives this pistol a slightly more
aggressive appearance, but once you’ve
added a sight, the MK23 looks weird
without one.
Fitting is as simple as sliding off the
standard unit, removing the working parts
to refit into the replacement and sliding
the assembly back in place. Takedown is
pretty standard, with the only difference
being that the slide doesn’t, well, slide
off to the front. Instead, move it both
forwards and upwards to remove. Just pay
attention to the angle the original comes
off and replicate that on the way back.
The only even slightly tricky bit was
persuading the feeding assembly out from
the rear of the original slide. Gently widen
the slide and wiggle it free. Then reverse
for the new part. All told, the whole
process takes no more than 10 minutes -
less if you know what you’re doing.
BADASS IN ANYONE’S BOOK
There’s no discernible difference in weight
between the new slide and the original
but now you can easily mount TM’s RMR
- other options are available - and that is
simply badass in anyone’s book.
Target acquisition is now faster but,
thanks to canny sculpting to the top
of either side of the slide, you still have
45-degree physical sights to fall back on -
as long as you don’t have the suppressor
fitted. It’s a clever solution that shows a lot
of thought has gone into this design.
Admittedly, an RMR on a sidearm is
something of an indulgence but it’s all
the more compelling on a pistol that can
outrange some budget AEGs. And if that’s
something that appeals to you, then the
Gungnir is a great option for the ultimate
sniper sidearm. AA
BIG IS BEAUTIFUL
But if ever there was a pistol crying out for
an RMR, it’s the hand cannon that is the
MK23. It’s just such a big lump that there’s
no question of subtlety here. In this case,
www.airsoft-action.online
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